Corruption in Mali: Context, Military, Crime, and Peacekeepers

The turmoil in Mali has been going on for just over a year with increasing international presence on the horizon. What started off as another in a series of attempted rebellions by the Tuareg ethnic group in northern Mali quickly intensified with a coup by the Malian army, and interventions by a range of outsiders including al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM), West and Central African troops and France.

Corruption as a key issue is not a guessing game in Mali. It is a grievance among all Malians, including the army and rebels. For an international mission to not address corruption as a priority would be like trying to put together a puzzle while ignoring a piece that is right in front of you.

Corruption as a root concern

The most recent uprising of Tuaregs, a nomadic ethnic group in the north of Mali, stems from a long list of issues, from economic mismanagement by the central government in Bamako through to corruption. Previous Tuareg rebellions have resulted in defeat or negotiated settlements for greater autonomy and/or economic development. This time however, a better equipped rebel movement caught the Mali military off guard.

Frustration over corruption is widespread in Mali. While the country has been held up as a relatively good example of democratic transition, citizens have been frustrated with elite corruption. Mali ranks 105th out 176 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. Foreign observers on the ground in Mali have expressed concerns that the current political class does not seem willing to change much of the habits that led to the current situation.

Going forwards

There are four critical issues related to the link between corruption and insecurity that an international intervention needs to take into account:

Contextualising corruption

Any international actors need to learn about corruption in context including local perceptions, key grievances, and stakeholders. While frustration with corruption is widespread in Mali, there will be difference in opinion in the north and the south on the nature of problems and ways to address them.

Corruption in defence

Tackling corruption in the military and security services will not be straightforward, and will likely be a long-term process. Drawing on past experiences, UN civilian staff addressing corruption need to approach it as a technical and political engagement issue. Internal checks and balances need to be strengthened on the distribution of funds for soldier pay and livelihoods as well as procurement. The military also needs to be held to account and adhere to democratic oversight. Moving reforms forwards, the military should be reminded of the effects of corruption on operational effectiveness.

Transnational organised crime

At a broad level, stabilisation and reconstruction programmes need to be integrated into a regional approach to tackle transnational organised crime. Mali serves as a transit route for narcotics, people, and weapons through West Africa, the Sahel, and Europe. Both Malian rebels and security personnel have been implicated in profiting from criminal activity.

Corruption risk in peacekeeping

Any peacekeeping or peace support operation will have to guard against corruption as well. Accusations are already arising over human rights violations by Malian troops, undermining the legitimacy of a national military. Incidences of corruption by international actors have occurred in other UN operations. Repeats of this misconduct will lead to hostility by Malians of all stripes leading to resentment of foreign troops, blocking any attempts at institutional reform, and possibly even expulsion of the mission.

Fitting corruption into any stabilisation efforts in Mali will be key to making a coherent picture out of the puzzle of ethnic and political divisions that leave the country open to militant groups, illicit activities, and a cycle of conflict.